Education staff unions in Wales, representing tens of thousands of school staff, have launched a petition with the Senedd demanding the Welsh Government withdraw plans to shorten summer holidays. They say proposals to change the school year dates “are not, and should not be, a priority for the education system in Wales”. A consultation on the proposal has ended before a decision is announced.
Launching the petition, the NEU Cymru, NASUWT Cymru, Unison Cymru, NAHT Cymru, UCAC and ASCL Cymru - the largest education unions in Wales - said there was no research showing that changing the school calendar and cutting summer holidays to five or four weeks would have a positive impact on children's academic attainment. They said it was a "dangerous distraction" when schools were facing huge financial pressure as well as mounting problems with behaviour and staff retention.
Speaking about the proposals, Emma Forrest, NEU’s assistant general secretary responsible for Wales said: “NEU Cymru is clear – funding of our schools, and support for our education workforce are the priorities for our members in Wales. With the new curriculum, additional learning needs reform, behaviour and attendance challenges, Welsh Government need to be supporting schools and making sure families have accessible holiday activities and free school meals, not changing the structure of the school year.”
The six-week summer holiday would be cut to five or four weeks under Welsh Government proposals. If they go ahead school year dates in Wales will change as early as October, 2025. Support staff have already said they would quit their jobs if the plans go ahead.
